Recovering economy will boost these two

Article Excerpt

RUSSEL METALS $27.79 (Toronto symbol RUS; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (905-819-7777; www.russelmetals.com; Shares outstanding: 60.2 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; Dividend yield: 5.0%) is one of North America’s largest metal distributors. It serves its 39,000 clients through 54 locations in Canada and 12 in the U.S. In the three months ended December 31, 2012, Russel’s revenue rose 7.6%, to $765.9 million from $711.6 million a year earlier. Revenue at the company’s steel-distribution division fell 20%, and sales at the metal-services business declined 10%. That’s because the slower economy pushed down steel demand. However, the energy tubular products division, which supplies pipes for oil and gas exploration and development, saw its revenue jump 48% on higher drilling activity. Strong balance sheet adds appeal Earnings fell 28.4%, to $20.4 million, or $0.34 a share, from $28.5 million, or $0.47. Steel prices declined in the latest quarter. That cuts Russel’s profit margins and causes it to suffer losses on its inventory. A strike at…